Youth Assertive Community Treatment (ACT)

The Youth Assertive Community Treatment (Youth ACT) program, administered by The Child Center of NY in partnership with Getting Out and Staying Out (GOSO), is a state-supported initiative funded through the New York State Office of Mental Health. This comprehensive, community-based mental health program is designed to support youth aged 10 to 21 who face severe psychiatric challenges and are at risk of institutionalization or are transitioning back from high-intensity environments such as residential treatment facilities. With the mission of preserving family unity and community integration, Youth ACT delivers intensive mental health services directly in the homes and communities of eligible youth residing in Manhattan. This program's primary objective is to reduce the need for inpatient psychiatric hospitalization by stabilizing youth in their existing environments. Youth ACT targets young individuals who have not responded effectively to traditional mental health services or who demonstrate high needs, such as frequent psychiatric hospitalizations, prolonged stays in mental health facilities, or severe, persistent symptoms. Treatment includes individual, family, and group therapy administered by licensed professionals, medication management, skill-building, clinical supports, and advocacy through trained peer and family advocates. Each youth and family receives a customized, strengths-based treatment plan that supports resilience and long-term mental health stability. The model of care is holistic and emphasizes collaboration with the broader ecosystem surrounding the youth. This includes coordination with schools, vocational programs, afterschool programs, and critical community resources. Treatment is designed to empower young people to achieve personal goals while reducing psychiatric symptoms and hospital dependency. Services are delivered in a culturally responsive manner, tailored to meet the unique needs of each participant and their family unit. Referrals to the Youth ACT program are exclusively managed through the Children’s Single Point of Access (CSPOA), a centralized intake system for children requiring intensive community-based mental health services in New York City. The CSPOA conducts a thorough assessment, including interviews with the youth, family, and referring provider, to determine eligibility and service needs. Upon acceptance into the Youth ACT program, a collaborative treatment team works with the family to design and execute a tailored intervention strategy. Eligibility criteria require youth to be Manhattan residents between 10 and 21 years of age and to meet at least two specific clinical criteria, such as multiple psychiatric hospitalizations within a year or an extended inpatient stay. While the program does not serve individuals outside Manhattan, The Child Center of NY provides support and referral services to families who do not meet these criteria to help them find suitable alternatives. Program hours are Monday through Friday, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and the program operates out of 201A East 124th Street in New York, NY. For inquiries or assistance, families may contact the Youth ACT program directly at 917-670-4369 during business hours, or reach The Child Center of NY’s general line at 718-358-8288 (or 718-830-5061 after hours). Although no specific application deadlines or cycles are published, the program operates continuously with referrals accepted year-round through the CSPOA portal. There is no mention of required cost sharing or matching funds. The performance period and award amounts are not specified, as this is an ongoing state-funded service program rather than a traditional grant opportunity.